This Day in History

1896:
The first modern Olympic Games opened in Athens, Greece minus the hot man-on-man action

1983:
Interior Secretary James Watt banned the Beach Boys from the 4th of July celebration on the Washington Mall, saying rock 'n' roll bands attract the "wrong element." Assuming by "the wrong element" he meant Hawaiian shirts, event organizers signed GWAR to play instead. 

Amazingly, this would be far from the most asinine remark Watt would make as Interior Secretary while Ronald Reagan was busy constructing our nation's current financial ruin in between his 8 daily naps.

A sampling off of the James Watt Greatest Hits Collection:

"I do not know how many future generations we can count on before the Lord returns, whatever it is we have to manage with a skill to leave the resources needed for future generations."

"If you want an example of the failures of socialism, don't go to Russia, come to America and go to the Indian reservations."

Proudly describing the make-up of his staff in 1983: "I have a black, a woman, two Jews and a cripple. And we have talent." 2 weeks later Watts submitted his resignation letter. 

"If the troubles from environmentalists cannot be solved in the jury box or at the ballot box, perhaps the cartridge box should be used."

1987:

Los Angeles Dodgers executive Al Campanis said on ABC's "Nightline" that blacks "may not have some of the necessities" to hold managerial jobs in major league baseball. 5 years later, Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston would go on to lead his team to back-to-back World Series titles, proving that a black guy can sit on his ass, scratch his nuts and be ignored by millionaire man-children just as effectively as the next honky.

Birthdays:

Actor Paul Rudd turns 40 years old today.
We love you, Paul Rudd.